Evaluation of Interventions to Reduce Firefighter Exposures

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effectiveness of firefighter exposure reduction interventions. METHODS: Fireground interventions included use of self-contained breathing apparatus by engineers, entry team wash down, contaminated equipment isolation, and personnel showering and washing of gear upon return to station. Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (PAH-OHs) were measured after structural fire responses before and after intervention implementation. Separately, infrared sauna use following live-fire training was compared to standard postfire care in a randomized trial. RESULTS: The fireground interventions significantly reduced mean total urinary postfire PAH-OHs in engineers (−40.4%, 95%CI −63.9%, −2.3%) and firefighters (−36.2%, 95%CI −56.7%, −6.0%) but not captains (−11.3% 95%CI −39.4%, 29.9%). Sauna treatment non-significantly reduced total mean PAH-OHs by −43.5% (95%CI −68.8%, 2.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The selected fireground interventions reduced urinary PAH-OHs in engineers and firefighters. Further evaluation of infrared sauna treatment is needed.